Musharraf-Zardari quid pro quo behind estrangement with Sharif: Imran

Published: Monday, May 19, 2008, 18:10 [IST]

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Islamabad, May 19 : Former Pakistan cricket captain and Tehrik-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan has accused PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari of reaching a quid pro quo understanding with President Pervez Musharraf, and this has led to his estrangement with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Talking to Geo News, on the occasion of his visit to a technical college in Mianwali, The News quoted Khan as saying that Musharraf did not favour an alliance between the PPP and the PML-N, as he saw it as inimical to his U.S. agenda.

Imran said the PPP leaders want to save President Musharraf from impeachment for getting rid off their cases and President Musharraf was using PPP for taking US agenda ahead.

Imran had earlier accused Zardari of scuttling the restoration of the deposed Supreme Court judges just to please the Americans who want to see Musharaf in power.

He has often said that Zardari's personal motive behind not restoring the Supreme Court judges was to keep the corruption cases worth billions of dollars lying pending against him, under the carpet.

"Zardari is playing a triple game of protecting American interests, Musharraf's power and getting away with corruption cases against him worth billions of dollars," The News quoted Khan as saying at an APDM (All Parties Democratic Movement) public rally outside the Lahore Press Club.

The APDM is an alliance of small time political parties that came into being before the February 18 polls, as a front against President Pervez Musharraf.

Imran alleged that Zardari was now part of the "new dangerous troika" that had taken over the reigns in Islamabad.